A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume I, Part 17

Author: Lincoln, Allen B
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke publ. co.
Number of Pages: 930

USA > Connecticut > Windham County > A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume I > Part 17

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

It was interesting to watch the building of the "tar sidewalks" on the prin- cipal streets of the now rapidly-growing borough-for Willimantic streets were still chiefly dirt roads with narrow foot paths along-side. We would stand around the big steaming kettles of the coal-black fluid, watching a chance to pick up a cooling bit which a workman had dropped, and to chew it before it got too hard, for that tar tasted good-at first,-but we would soon reject it. It smelled better than it tasted. At early evening we would sometimes follow the man who lighted the kerosene lamps on the light-posts placed at corners of the principal streets ; a few years later they were changed to gas jets, after the big gas plant was built down by the river-side back of the depot :- today an electric plant as well.

134

HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY

Of course we played marbles in early spring, and one of the big questions discussed in the family was whether or not it was right to "play for keeps." Our folks were afraid it would "lead to gambling," and some parents forbade it. This tendency took care of itself in most cases, for a few boys would be so adept at the "keeps" game that they would soon have all the marbles, and they were like the monopolists of these later days whom they foreshadowed-envied but not popular.

We walked on "stilts," slender slats of pine with foot-rests eighteen or twenty inches from the ground and the top-ends held under the arms; run- ning races on these, at which some lads developed marvellous skill, and others bumped their noses frequently, as, of course, the walker was helpless when once he lost his balance. Sometimes we would cut off the slats at hip-heights, strap the stilts to the legs, and walk around that way for hours. One of the "stumps" was to wade across a muddy lot, and of course many sprawled in the mud and none could get up without help from others who had no stilts.

We made and flew "kites," sending paper "messages" along the line to the far-flung frame with its slender tail sometimes almost out of sight ; so high could it be sent on a day when the breeze was just right; and we thought often of Franklin and his electric shock and wondered if we couldn't get one too. We played "hare and hounds," the "hounds" following the "hares" all after- noon, while endeavoring vainly to trace them by the bits of paper which they must scatter in a way to show the real trail, albeit some side tricks were per- missible if on the whole the main trail was fairly indicated without too much diversion. The spirit of all games was held to an essential degree of fair play, or there was trouble for the tricksters.

My parents were living in these days in the two-story house now concealed within the large frame building at northwest corner of Union and Center streets. At the rear was a large yard, with several apple trees, and at the west side my father's barn, like the Adams barn opposite, the scene of many games. The beams and boards of the Lincoln barn now repose quietly in the double frame dwelling which stands on Center Street next north of where we lived. We built a stage in the Lincoln barn and had "theatres" for which we wrote "plays," chiefly concerned with robberies and bandit life, with the proper proportion of rescues and happy endings. The admission was at first by pines, then by marbles, and finally by pennies. We had real pasteboard tickets printed on the amateur press of the Adams boys. And of course we often played circus and had a real tent.

Such were the sports of the younger lads, say eight to fourteen years old. As we grew older, of course, we went off swimming and played regular base ball. Rowing on the Willimantic River has always been popular among young and old; but nothing has ever excelled the zest of those days of real "boyhood."

So far as I recall, the girls were not as active in sports as the boys in those days. They helped more around home, they played dolls and croquet; played "archery" with fancy-colored bows and arrows; and played "grace hoops" -throwing tape-covered hoops a foot in diameter and with two sticks like small drum-sticks, the game being to throw a hoop over your opposite's head at a distance of ten or twelve paces ;- boys sometimes played this game with the girls, as also of course croquet; but none of the girls, large or small, were as active as they are today ; it wasn't thought "proper"-they must be quiet and.

135

HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY

"lady-like !" Dancing, card-playing and the theatre were still taboo-"in- struments of the devil."

During the summer vacations we picked up bones, old iron, white glass (not green window glass-that was "no good"), old rubbers, white paper, in- cluding newspaper, all of which waste commodities sold for good prices per pound (varying from one to two cents) at any tinsmith's, and many a lad thus secured a fair amount of "spending money" which parents of those days were usually "chary of," but if earned was allowed to be our own. Some of the more thrifty boys would save the pennies, thus earned, and start a bank account as soon as a dollar was saved. We earned our "Fourth of July money" by picking strawberries at the J. A. Lewis nursery on Jackson Street at two cents per box. The chief ambition in saving money by these various ways was to be able to "go to the circus" when it came along. Usually once a summer was enough for this, and about all the town could stand, although once in a while a small tent show with ponies and dogs, snakes, trained mice, etc., would come along. But the big circus and menagerie was the thing. And how we used that menagerie stuff as a plea to get next to the circus ;- for circuses were looked upon askance by church folks ;- but to see and hear "the animals," that was "educational."

I recall the story of one good deacon who was surprised to meet his pastor at the menagerie. The pastor hastened to explain that he was not going in to see the circus. "But I am surprised to find you here, even for the menagerie, as I didn't suppose you would approve. As for myself, I came to let my boy see the animals." "Well," said the pastor, "I bought tickets because my little nephew was coming down from the country and I thought I ought to take him." "But where is your nephew?" asked the deacon. "Oh, he was taken ill at the last minute and couldn't come !"

There was always some "moral" feature in the circus, usually in the songs of the clown. I recall two songs that seem now to have been prophetic. Both were very popular, and you may still hear an occasional echo of them. One had in it the seeds of the later-day coal strikes, and the chorus ran :

"Down in a coal mine Underneath the ground, Where a ray of sunshine Never can be found, Digging dusty diamonds All the season 'round, Down in a coal mine Underneath the ground."

The other foreshadowed the spirit of "social service" so much in vogue today, and its refrain, as feelingly rendered by the clown, whose grotesque costume seemed only to emphasize the pathos, ran like this :

"Then do your best to help each other Making life a pleasant dream ; Help a poor and struggling brother Pulling hard against the stream."

136

HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY

TOM WEAVER AND FAMILY

Mrs. Delia Chipman Weaver (wife of Thomas S. Weaver) who died in Hartford March 4, 1920, after a long illness, at the age of seventy-five, was a Willimantic girl, and taught at Natchaug grammar school for several years. Her sister, the late Martha Chipman, taught in the First District schools for many years. Another sister, Mary, married the late Paul and lived at Newton Center, Mass. They were children of John Chipman and Lydia Kingsbury. John Chipman was employed by the Willimantic Linen Company (now merged with American Thread) and during the latter years of his life was night watch- man.

Mrs. Weaver had lived in Hartford for thirty-seven years, actively identified with religious and social welfare work. Three children survive her, Elbert L., John N., and Mary L. Weaver, and a niece, Mary R. Paul, all residing in Hart- ford, and all filling responsible positions.

When the children were small, Mrs. Weaver occasionally spent a few weeks at the Chipman homestead on Jackson Street. One early evening when son John was a lively youngster of five or six years, he was saying prayers while kneeling at the bedside-the usual: "Now I lay me" and "Our Father"- and at the close, without stopping he added several "swear words" in French, having evidently played with children of the newly-arriving Canadian families. His mother, who had a keen sense of humor, but was alive to her responsibilities, exclaimed, "Why, Johnny, you mustn't say things like that; God does not like to have a little boy pray to Him that way." "Don't God know French ?" inquired John. "Why-er-no," said mother, a bit non-plussed by the ques- tion; and before she could explain, John lifted up his head towards heaven and cried out, "Oh, God, you're an old Yankee!"

Delia Chipman was noted in her "set" of Willimantic young folks for quick wit and apt repartee-and Hartford knew her for the same qualities. She was popular with her pupils, and there are still a good number surviving, in- cluding the writer, who hold her in grateful recollection. She knew how to keep the children busy, knowing that if she didn't, they would keep her busy. In one memorable instance they got away from her. She taught the children many topical and occupational songs then coming into vogue. One was a mo- tion song, with each verse illustrated in obvious manner, the little first or second grade pupils standing in line at opposite sides of the room, the boys on one side, the girls on the other, and with waving hands scattering imaginary seed they would sing-

"In spring the farmer sows the seed Sows the seed, sows the seed, In spring the farmer sows the seed, So early in the morning."

Next verse, the little hands raised high and dropping with light rhythmic cadence-

"And then the gentle showers come down," etc.,

Then, the rhythmic motion reversed from the ground up-

"And then the little seeds spring up," etc.,

And so the story went on to include cultivation and harvest.

137

HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY

But the song wherein the children got away from teacher was one describ- ing another occupation, and dwelling particularly on a happy family life. It seems that of late a certain young man has appeared on the teacher's horizon, and would quite frequently call near the closing time of school to attend the attractive young lady to her nearby home. Of course the children got wise very quickly. The song in question, when normally rendered, told about "Weaver John" and "Jane" his "Dear Old Dame." But the children soon evolved a version of their own, which ran on this wise-

"Down in a cottage lived Weaver Tom And a happy young Tom is he, Dele is the name of his dear young dame And a happy young dame is she."

The "happy young dame" blushed to the roots of her hair when she first realized what the children were singing. She tried in vain on several occasions to hold them to the original words, but her own confusion in the attempt was too obvious and she had to give it up. The song was dropped from the list, but some of the irrepressibles would often hum a line or two in her hearing,- after school hours! And before long, "they were married, and lived happily ever afterwards." They would have celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage, had she lived until June 25, 1920.

Her husband, ever since those days "a happy young Tom," ever young in spirit and now rich in blessed memories, is none other than Thomas Snell Weaver, for many years past superintendent of schools for the Town of Hart- ford. He was born in Willimantic, 1845, son of William L. Weaver, famous in Willimantic history as school teacher, bookseller, especially of school sup- plies; and actively encouraging the reading of high-grade books and magazines; editor of the Willimantic Journal, public speaker, genealogist, and withal wise counsellor for "all the country 'round."

Thomas Snell Weaver learned the printer's trade at the Journal office, then took up newspaper work, and became widely known and quoted as a writer of pithy and witty comments on current events.

During his young manhood in Willimantic he also showed excellent talent as an amateur actor, and some of his schoolmates, now widely scattered, will still tell you how Tom Weaver gave a very realistic demonstration of love- making as "The Yankee Peddler," with Miss Ida Tracy, daughter of the vil- lage magnate, John Tracy, in the role of heroine.

Mr. Weaver followed editorial work for many years, in Worcester, New Haven and Hartford; was called back for a time as editor of the Willimantic Journal ; and his work was everywhere recognized as having the real touch of "human interest." He was on the staff of the Hartford Courant for years. He took keen interest in public affairs, especially in schools, and in 1898 he was chosen superintendent of schools for Hartford, a position he still holds (1920). Thousands of children know and love him, and he is held in highest esteem by "all Hartford."

WINDHAM IN PUBLIC LIFE

The following have been prominent in affairs of Windham and Willimantic, between 1859 and the present time: William A. King was attorney general of

138

HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY

Connecticut from 1903-07, and George E. Hinman from 1915-19. Edwin A. Buck was state bank commissioner from 1893-95; Daniel P. Dunn, state comp- troller from 1913-15; T. Morton Hills, president of the State Medical Society in 1887; John M. Hall, president pro tem of the State Senate in 1889; Huber Clark, secretary of state, 1899-1901; Alfred A. Burnham, speaker of the State House of Representatives in 1870; John M. Hall, speaker of the House of Representatives in 1882; John L. Hunter, state's attorney, 1895-1903; Edwin A. Buck, state treasurer from 1877-79.

The following have been county sheriffs: Calvin H. Davison, 1871; Charles B. Pomeroy, 1888-89 ; Charles A. Gates, 1915-20.

Several have been prosecuting agents : J. H. Hills, 1895; Herbert H. Seward, 1896-99; Judson A. Potter, 1900-01; James Smith, 1913; Frank L. Powell, 1914-16.

The following are those who have taken a prominent part in affairs of the Windham County Medical Society : Eliphalet Huntington, president, 1874; Charles Jas. Fox, president, 1888; F. G. Sawtelle, president, 1889 ; T. R. Parker, president, 1895; Frank E. Guild, president, 1897; Laura H. Hills, vice presi- dent, 1901, and president, 1902; Robert C. White, president, 1906-07; John Weldon, vice president, 1909, and president, 1910; J. Hobart Egbert, secretary, 1911; W. P. S. Keating, secretary, 1912-14; Clarence E. Simonds, vice presi- dent, 1913; Owen O'Neil, vice president, 1914, and president, 1915; Laura H. Hills, secretary, 1915-16; Louis I. Mason, vice president, 1916, and president, 1917-18; J. A. Girouard, vice president, 1919, and president, 1920.

STATE SENATORS, WINDHAM AND WILLIMANTIC

From the old Thirteenth District, 1862, John Tracy; 1871, Elliot B. Sum- ner ; 1874, Whiting Hayden ; 1876, Edwin A. Buck; 1877-79, George S. Moulton ; when Windham was a part of the Seventeeth District, 1882-83, Eugene S. Boss ; 1889-90, John M. Hall; 1897-98, George M. Harrington; 1903-04, Charles A. Gates; also 1907-08, District Twenty-nine.

REPRESENTATIVES, GENERAL ASSEMBLY, WINDHAM AND WILLIMANTIC

Representatives, 1859 to date, are as follows: 1859, Frank M. Lincoln, Rod- erick Davison ; 1860, James Walden, William Smith; 1861, Horace Hall, Abner Follet ; 1862, George W. Burnahm, Luther Burnham; 1863, Samuel Bingham, Joshua B. Lord; 1864, William Swift, Nathan A. Stearns; 1865, George W. Brewster, Ralph Chappell; 1866, Samuel G. Williard, William P. Gates; 1867, Asahel Tarbox, William P. Gates; 1868, Edwin E. Burnham, Elisha G. Ham- mond; 1869, Lewis Burlingame, Charles Larabee; 1870, John M. Hall, Alfred A. Burnham; 1871, John M. Hall, George S. Moulton; 1872, John M. Hall, Huber Clark; 1873, James M. Johnson, Frank H. Blish; 1874, Allen B. Burle- son, William H. H. Bingham; 1875, J. Griffin Martin, Don F. Johnson ; 1876, Ansel Arnold, Elisha H. Holmes; 1877, Eugene S. Boss, L. J. Hammond ; 1878, Arthur S. Winchester, John M. Alpaugh; 1879, William C. Jillson, John L. Hunter ; 1880, David H. Clark, Jonathan Hatch; 1881-1882, John M. Hall, Samuel Bingham; 1883, Amos F. Fowler, Gilford Smith ; 1884, George M. Har- rington, Frank S. Fowler; 1885, John G. Keigwin, Walter G. Morrison; 1886, Jerome Amos B. Palmer; Jerome B. Baldwin; 1887, J. Griffin Martin, Albert R. Morrison ; also 1888; 1889-90, Charles A. Capen, Augustine E. Clark; 1891- 92, F. F. Webb, Eugene S. Boss ; 1893-94, Homer E. Remington, John L. Walden ;

139

HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY

1895-96, Frank M. Wilson, Andrew J. Bowen; 1897-98, Huber Clark, John Brown; 1899-1900, Charles A. Gates, William A. King; 1901-02, Charles A. Gates, William-A. King; 1903-04, Daniel P. Dunn, William C. Backus; 1905-06, Charles F. Risedorf, George Hatch; 1907-08, Daniel P. Dunn, George A. Bart- lett ; 1909-10, Daniel P. Dunn, Guilford Smith; also 1911-12; 1913-14, Thomas J. Kelley, E. Frank Bugbee; 1915-16, Ernest P. Chesbro, S. Arnold Peckham; 1917-18, Frank P. Fenton, Pierre J. Laramee; 1919-20, William A. King, Al- phonse Chagnon.

WINDHAM AND WILLIMANTIC JUDGES, PROBATE COURT

From 1859 to date, the judges of the Probate Court, of Windham, have been as follows : 1859-60, Thomas Gray; 1861-62, Justin Swift; 1863-73, William Swift; 1874-75, George Lincoln; 1876-77, Lewis Burlingame; 1878-81, Huber Clark; 1882-83, John D. Wheeler; 1884-90, Huber Clark; 1891-92, Henry N. Wales (died 1892) ; 1893-96, Huber Clark; 1897-1902, Charles N. Daniels ; 1903-06, Henry H. Hunter ; 1907-16, James A. Shea ; 1917-18, James F. Twomey ; 1919-20, Otto B. Robinson.

THE WILLIMANTIC WOMAN'S CLUB

The Willimantic Woman's Club was formally organized March 29, 1890, with eighteen charter members, as follows: Miss Harriet E. Brainard, Miss Jennie C. Robinson, Mrs. Charrie Barrows Capen, Mrs. Hattie J. Gates, Mrs. Nellie A. Morrison, Mrs. Nellie A. Crane, Mrs. Abbie W. Abel, Mrs. Catherine Morrison, Mrs. Marie C. Clark, Mrs. Jennie D. Alford, Mrs. Ella S. Bennett, Mrs. Alice M. Crane, Mrs. Martha Everest Hatheway, Mrs. Jennie E. Bill, Mrs. Marietta Conant, Miss May E. Davison, Mrs. Sarah C. Rogers, Mrs. Julia Loomer Hall. Of these Mrs. Robinson, Mrs. Gates, Mrs. Abel, Mrs. Bennett, Mrs. Crane, Miss Davison, and Mrs. Hall are surviving (July, 1920), Mrs. Bennett now residing in Hanover and Mrs. Hall in New Haven, the others in Willimantic.

The three first named, Miss Brainard, Mrs. Robinson and Mrs. Capen, stand out clearly as the leading spirits of the club at its inception and for many years thereafter. Few similar organizations have shown more intelligence, persistence and sustained interest than has this club during its thirty years of active service. It was one of the earliest clubs of the kind in this country, following not long after the organization of "Sorosis" of New York City, widely known as "the Mother Club."

Miss Brainard was chosen first president, which position she held for two years. For many years prior she had been a social leader. She was a success- ful business woman, a milliner, and her word was law as to fashions in hats and bonnets in Willimantic and surrounding towns. She possessed unusual executive ability, and her talent in that direction proved helpful in the earlier days of the Willimantic Woman's Club. She was ambitious that the women of Willimantic should express themselves in higher things than fashions and so she welcomed the coming of the woman's club and did all she could to promote its growth. Later she removed to Hartford, and resided there until her death in 1911, but she always retained an active interest in Willimantic.

Mrs. Robinson, who is still living with her son, Judge Otto B. Robinson, but who, owing to feeble health, has been inactive in recent years, was a woman of unusual intellectual force, holding views on such questions as woman suf- frage and spiritualism much in advance of her time. She was also a woman

140

HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY

of high general intelligence and literary tastes, and exerted a marked influence on the line of work and programs followed by the club in its earlier days.

Mrs. Charrie Barrows Capen was a leader in dramatic work. Ever since her girlhood she had developed an intense interest in "charades" and "table- aux," especially for "school exhibitions" and she had a large following among the young people of the community, not only when they were of her own age, but all through her life she held their interest. She especially favored the melodramatic, but also aroused active interest in the study of Shakespeare and of English and American authors. She was intensely "human" in her inter- pretation of life ;- she loved first of all to help the young people to have a good time; and yet she steadily maintained high ideals. She led the young people especially through dramatics, which employed their physical energies while arousing and developing also an intellectual life. She had no objection to dancing, but she believed the young people could employ their time to much better advantage, than in dancing and card-playing; also have just as much fun. An especially notable evidence of her ability and influence was the pres- entation of "The Merchant of Venice" in Franklin Hall, in the later '70s (date is not available) when she took the part of "Portia," with D. G. Lawson as "Shylock," Henry Morrison as "Bassanio," Hadlai Hull as "Gratiano," Edna Snow as "Nerissa." It was one of the finest dramatic presentations ever given in Willimantic and Charrie Capen's interpretation of "Portia" was an influence for nobler character long to be remembered. The recitation beginning "The quality of mercy is not strained" was given with a depth of feeling that showed dramatic talent of the highest order. This of course was long before the days of the Woman's Club, but its influence was an undoubted stimulus to the intellectual life of the community. Mrs. Capen was a very active factor in the Woman's Club from 1890 until her death February 13, 1915. She was thrice chosen president, 1892-94, 1900-02, 1909-12, or seven years in all. She was constant and tireless in all her varied social service. Within a week of her death she was engaged in plans for the twenty-fifth anniversary of the club. She was president of the State Federation of Woman's Clubs for the years 1906-08.

Through the influence and planning of these three leaders, a strong course of social studies was laid out for the Willimantic Woman's Club, and com- mittees were appointed to plan the work for study in history, literature, art, science and social entertainments. Bi-monthly meetings were held at the homes of the members, where "papers" written by members as assigned were the feature. The membership became too large for home meetings, and on Janu- ary 18, 1898, club rooms were engaged and fitted up in the Willimantic Savings Institute Building, where the first meeting was held March 1, 1898.

Bringing good lectures to the city was an important part of the club work then, as now, and among those who have been heard in Willimantic by this plan are Dr. Robert S. McArthur, Mary A. Livermore, Jenness Miller, E. D. Cheney, Richard Burton, Felix Adler, Professor Winchester of Wesleyan Uni- versity, Margaret Deland, Ernest Thompson-Seton, Marie Meyer, Herbert K. Job.

When a State Federation of Woman's Clubs was formed in Connecticut in 1897, the Willimantic Club was one of the first to join. Mrs. Capen was president of the state federation for the years 1906-08.

Mrs. Emir W. Hamlin, who was president of the club in 1897-99, was an -.

141

HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY

other strong leader of the club in her day. She was a member of the town school board for several years.

Among the later-day leaders was Jennie Cady King, wife of Atty. Wil- liam A. King, who came to Willimantic from Stafford in 18-, and soon became an active influence in the Woman's Club and in the community. She was a woman of brilliant intellect and strong powers of leadership. She took an active part in shaping the programs and the entertainments. She was chosen a director of the State Federation of Woman's Clubs in 1897. She was a vigor- ous pioneer among the suffrage leaders. She served several years as member of the town school board. She was twice chosen president of the Woman's Club, 1899-1900 and 1905-07. Her death in 19- was mourned as a serious loss to the community.

In later years the Woman's Club has broadened its work to include social service. It has taken an active interest in civic affairs. The inception and maintenance of garbage collection by the city was almost entirely due to the efforts of these women. Garbage collection seemed to be regarded as an unnec- essary fad by some of the city fathers of that day and it required several visits to the council chamber by members of the Woman's Club before the plan was safely established.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume I, Part 17

Author: Lincoln, Allen B Publication date: 1920 Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke publ. co. Number of Pages: 930

Author: Lincoln, Allen B
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke publ. co.
Number of Pages: 930